Improvement in copy-holders



H. H. HENDRIX.

COPY-HOLDER.

No.184,525, Patented No v.21,1876.

' a single sheet to half a quire or more.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoR.

HARRISON H. HENDR X, or sAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

/ v IMPROVEMENT lN COPY-HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,525, dated November 21, 1876 application filed 1 October 28, 1875. v

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, H. H. HENDRIX, of San Jos, California, have invented a new and Improved Paper-Holder, which I describe as follows, viz:

My invention consists, first, of a pair of india-ruhber rollers, of suitable size and length--say, from half an inch to an inch in diameter, and from four to twelve inches in length. To one of these rollers is attached a ratchet and spring, and to the other a pair of spiral springs, one at each end. The rollers are for the purpose of carrying forward any paper placed between them, and the spiral springs, pressing equally on each end, permit the rollers to easily and readily adjust themselves to any desired thickness of paper from The rollers, on being turned by a knot) at one end,

carry forward the paper to the distance desired, when the ratchet and spring indicate a stop, the distance being regulated according to the requirements of the case.

The second part of my machine is the board on which the paper to be Written upon .or

copied rests.- It is flat or ovalfaced, and in width and length suitable to the other parts of the machine. It is from one to six inches wide, and from four to twelve long.

The third part of my machine is a fingerinch above the other board, when the machine is used for writing purposes, and where most desirable as a screen on the copy-holder.

The fourth and last part of my machine is an elastic or springy guide-bar to guide the pen in writing and the eye in reading copy.

It is movable, so as to agree with the ratchet and the width of the lines in the copy; but to guide the pen in writing it is fixed permanently about an inch below the rollers, and half or three-quarters of an inch above the board on which the paper rests. -The machine is held in place by a suitable frame of cast-iron or wood. As a writing-machine, it is placed in a horizontal position; but as a copy-holder the top is elevated to any desirable angle. When a paper is placed in this machine (which takes but an instant) it enables the copyist to write without the trouble of continually looking from his work to the copy, and by presenting only one or two lines at a time, and these immediately before his eyes, and at the proper elevation, it removes the liability of mistakes, and enables the copyist to do more work in a given time.

As a writing-machine for the blind it will he a great convenience, if not an absolute necessity, as any blind person can in a short time learn its use, and will then be able to write a legible hand with ease and facility. The hand being guided by the finger-board, and the pencil or pen by the springy guidebar, it will bea pleasure to the blind to write, as his paper will always be carried forward and his lines properly spaced by the ratchet'ed roller.

Having thus described my machine and its use, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the rollers, having spring and ratchet and spiral springs attached, with the writing-board, the fingerboard, and theelastic guide-bar, as set forth.

HARRISON H. HENDRIX.

Witnesses:

J. A. CLAYTON, P. M. BRUNER. 

